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One of Eugene鈥檚 largest builders has been making inroads in the Portland market. Essex General Construction, founded in 1987, has grown to more than 50 employees and can now handle jobs up to $35 million. In 2015, it opened a Portland office headed by Bo Oswald. On the boards today at Essex are market-rate and affordable housing projects, commercial and industrial facilities, restaurants and schools.

Boathouse Apartments

Crews are wrapping up work on the $20.1 million Boathouse project in Portland at 444 S.W. Boundary St. Construction of the seven-story, 175,960-square-foot, 133-unit complex began in summer 2014. Located near the Willamette River, Boathouse will offer tenants secure spaces to park their 鈥渃ar, bike or kayak,鈥� according to Essex鈥檚 business development manager, Jodi Sommers.

The developer is Paradigm Properties and the architect is Dustrud Architecture of Eugene. A LEED gold rating is targeted.

Eugene Airport renovation and expansion

Essex is nearly finished with a remodel of one of Lane County鈥檚 busiest buildings: the Eugene Airport terminal. The $16.8 million renovation and addition is intended to ease congestion at the facility, where traveler numbers have exploded in recent years (last year, 909,000 people arrived or departed). The project focuses on the airport鈥檚 security screening checkpoint, B gate hold, A gate concourse and baggage claim area.

The project was designed by RS&H, headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla.

The Eliot Apartments

Essex has been working this year on the $13 million Eliot Apartments at Northeast Seventh Avenue and Russell Street in Portland鈥檚 Eliot neighborhood. The six-story, 88,000-square-foot building includes 68 apartments and underground parking for 43 motor vehicles and 75 bikes.

Like the Boathouse project, the designer is Dustrud Architecture and the developer is Paradigm Properties. The team is seeking a LEED gold rating.

( who feel it has an inappropriate height and density for the neighborhood.)

Orchard Crossing

Essex is in the initial stages of a $16.7 million multifamily project near the University of Oregon. Orchard Crossing will be 112,000 square feet and include 139 studio and one-bedroom apartments. The project鈥檚 architect is gLAs Architects of Eugene.

The Oaks at 14th

This project is being built for Sponsors Inc., a nonprofit that provides services for men and women re-entering Lane County following incarceration. will provide apartments for 54 men who have completed Sponsors鈥� re-entry program.

The architect is Bergsund Delaney of Eugene.

Builder鈥檚 Choice is a new 91视频 feature offering a look at the projects being tackled by local architecture, engineering and construction firms. To have your firm鈥檚 projects considered, contact 91视频 construction reporter Garrett Andrews at 503-802-7226 or [email protected].